Clearing the Air in La Jolla

In April, biologists said the odor in La Jolla was, essentially, the smell of success. Environmental protections put in place in La Jolla over the past few decades have brought endangered species back into the coastal town.

La Jolla is a state-designated area of "special biological significance." That means California strictly regulates its waters to protect its abundant marine life, which also attracts birds.

"We're kind of a victim of our own success," said Robert Pitman, a marine biologist at the National Marine Fisheries Service in La Jolla during an interview last month.

After nearly two years of debate over the most ecological and non-invasive cleanup, San Diego's Mayor Bob Filner said the smell was a public health hazard and as a result supersedes state laws that have stalled cleanup before now.

To move the matter along and gain some resolution, Filner issued an “Emergency Finding” under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.

The City of San Diego then hired a company called Blue Eagle to use nonpathogenic bacteria to eat away the animal waste and its odor.

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Blue Eagle is expected to begin Tuesday applying the product in small amounts and under specialist supervision to measure the impact and effectiveness.

The specialized “microbial odor counteractant and cleaner” will be applied to the guano on top of the cliffs. The product will “digest” the guano and organisms atop the cliffs and, if all goes as planned, eliminate odors.

The product has been used in the past to address similar odor problems in cities like Sacramento and at the Colorado Springs Zoo, according to Filner.